Having lived in the south since 1998 I don't know that there are any more racists here than there are anywhere else in the world. I want to make sure we all know the difference between a racist and a bigot because I think people get them confused or think they are the same. A racist is someone who thinks his genetic race or make up is inherently superior to another, whereas a bigot is someone who prefers or wishes not to associate with those of another group, class or race. Hitler was a racist and a bigot. There are bigots that are not racist but simply prefer not to associate with others not of their class or race.
I sometimes wonder if I have a little bigotry in me because when I have to go to south Atlanta, a large difference in ethnic group from the north side, I get upset at the laziness, lack of service at restaurants, stores and other places of business. I prefer not to associate with those of south Atlanta, does this make me a bit of a bigot or just someone who hates incompetence?
5 comments:
I don't think that makes you a bigot. You don't like to go to South Atlanta because service is bad or because the work ethic is not what wish it were. However, if you don't go to South Atlanta because you don't like to associate with the particular groups of people who live there, then, by your definition, you would be a bigot.
I myself will not go to an Al-Qaeda training camp, not because I don't like people of Arab descent, but rather because I don't care for the service they would perform on me.
I might be a bigot then. I wouldn't go to south Atlanta mostly because of fear. I am afraid to associate with a certain group of people because I fear they don't like me because of my color and race. I fear reverse hate/discrimation. I think it to be very alive out there as well. Kind of like Alan and his Al-Queda idea. I wouldn't go because I don't know what service they might want to render me.....am I a bigot?
We all have some level of bigotry in us that we must pay attention to. The question is whether or not one is making progress in reducing that bigotry. The best way I know to reduce it is to educate oneself.
Finally, it is not what claims we make regarding our own bigotry or lack of it, it is what we do that defines us as bigots.
As Alan said, Al-Qaeda has to do with what those people do, not whether they are arab or not. Besides, Al-Qaeda is pan-racial and encourages acts of violence of all Muslim in all countries regardless of race.
We can all ask ourselves which groups of people we distrust and at what levels.
Some of the groups of people for whom I must use my better reasoning in order to temper my negative judgments (that can slip to levels of bigotry) are Muslims, Orthodox Jews, religious extremists of all stripes, religious fundamentalists, religious integrationists, evangelicals, Republicans, and weight lifters who grunt and strut.
So I try to read about these groups (well not the weight lifters) and concentrate on understanding their motives, ideals, and fears. I've learned a great deal about Islam and various fundamentalisms. It has really helped. My conversations with most of you regarding Republican ideals has been helpful.
I think that I have made some progress, but I am not without judgment for sure. Maybe I need a twelve-step plan?
Doug's opinion is very well put. My difficulty is with anti-Mormon evangelicals and liberals (not necessarily Democrats, although the distinction is becoming less and less clear). It is so hard to understand opinions that are contrary to our own, but I am sure that the first step in any 12-step plan is to be willing to try. In that sense Doug is probably ahead of me.
I doubt I am ahead of Alan or anyone, I'm just ahead of where I used to be! At least, I hope so.
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